Endless printing-form.



N0. '769,296. Q PATENTED SEPT. 6, 1904.

H.' G. BENDER.

ENDLESS PRINTING FORM.

v APPLICATION FILED DEO.17, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented September 6, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

ENDLESS PRINTING-FORM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 769,296, datedSeptember 6, 1904.

Application filed December 1'7, 1902. Serial No. 135,589. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HORACE Gr. BENDER, a citizen of the United States,residing at East Orange, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Endless Printing-Forms; and I do declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, which will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention has reference to endless flexible printing-forms; and theinvention consists in the construction and combination of parts,substantially as shown and described, and particularly pointed out inthe claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side elevationof a portion of a printing-machine with which my invention is adapted tobe used and which shows the endless printing-form over the rollersthereon, as will hereinafter fully appear. Fig. 2 is a perspective planView of a section of the endless form alone.

I have shown as much ,of a printing-machine as appears to be necessaryand whichis designed mostly to disclose the manner of .using myinvention rather than as an essential ticed with different kinds ofmachines, and

particularly a class of machines of my own invention; but the inventionresides mainly in the endless printing-form F, which consists of theblanket or belt 2, of rubber, rubber-- covered canvas, or other base ofsuitable material and of the required thickness and elasticity tocushion the work, and upon this I place a sheet-covering 4, of zinc,aluminium, or equivalent material or substance, which is adapted toreceive the design, figure, or characters from which the impressions areto be transferred to the cloth or paper provided to receive 'the same.The base or blanket 2 and the metallic sheet 4, which is adheredthereto, are arranged to terminate at the same place, and the ends ofthe blanket are left just far enough apart to permit the ends of themetallic sheet-covering to be firmly joined and to rest the jointbetween the ends of the blanket, or vice versa. In this instance thejoint is made by hooking the ends of the said sheet together and thenflattening them, substantially as shown,thus leaving a practicallysmooth and continuous surface above and below, and yet making theconnection strong enough for all practical purposes. However, anyequivalent or sufficient means for connecting the ends of the said sheetand form may be employed without departing from the spirit of theinvention. By thus cushioning the said plate 4 I provide a continuouscushion for the printing and also obviate the necessity of cushioningthe impression-cylinder B, against which the cloth or paper comes whenbeing printed. Them-again, with a covering of this kind no ink can reachthe rubber blanket beneath, and

-I avoid the consequent rapid deterioration of said blanket, whichalways occurs when the blanket is exposed, as formerly, and the materialexpense of frequent renewals.

. Now the design, whatever it may be, is drawn or produced by etchings,transfers, or otherwise upon the zinc or other sheet, and the printingis done therefrom in the usual way. Afterward when it is desired tochange the design or figure upon the Zinc the sheet is ground offsufficiently to remove the design, when the plate is ready for anotheretching or design, and so on over and over again. It thus follows that Ican use the same endless form or belt for a considerable period anduntil the zinc or metallic sheet has been practically worn out in use,when it is removed and a new one substituted. If necessary, I can repeatany particular, design at intervals around the entire length of thebelt, and I can also feed paper or cloth thereto in ery, as in pressesordinarily.

Manifestly the details of construction as hereinbefore set forth may bevaried and changed as conditions or circumstances demand and be Withinthe invention, the essential features of which are the endless form,with its slightly-cushioned base and metallic sheet-covering adapted tohave the printingdesigns developed directly upon its surface and to beremoved and substituted Without changing or cutting the form.

What I claim is 1-. An endless printing-form having a cushioning-blanketat its base and the ends of said blanket separated, and a sheet-metalcovering adhered to said base and having its ends joined transversely inthe space between the ends of the base, substantially as described.

2. An endless printing-form having a sheetmetal covering and the ends ofsaid covering separated, and a cushioning-blanket as its base adheringto said metallic sheet and having its ends joined transversely in thespace between the ends of the sheet-covering, substantially asdescribed.

Witness my hand to the foregoing specification this 25th day ofNovember, 1902.

HORACE G. BENDER.

Witnesses:

G. B. PITNEY, RUssELL M. EVERETT.

